WASHINGTON, DC — On any given day you can hear at least one person complaining about a government issue, whether it’s the war, prescription drugs or taxes. Yet most of these folks do nothing to help bring about change because they feel they are too insignificant to make a difference. This week in Washington, D.C., aftermarket professionals were the exception.

Nearly 300 energetic and purpose-driven people showed up at the nation’s capitol for the biennial Legislative Summit hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). As in years past, the summit focused support on the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (reintroduced on June 12 in the 110th congress as H.R. 2694) and the Small Business Health Plan legislation. Collectively, attendees met with 160 legislators to discuss these and other issues.

The Right to Repair Act, if passed, would legally require vehicle manufacturers to provide all independent aftermarket repair facilities with the same information manufacturers provide their dealer networks. According to AAIA, vehicle manufacturers are making access to this vital information difficult to obtain by the aftermarket. Without this repair information, every motorist would be affected, as car owners would be forced to take their vehicles to dealerships, which are often more expensive than aftermarket repair facilities and may not be as convenient.

Another issue discussed with legislators on Capital Hill was small business health plans. Every employee deserves the opportunity to receive good health insurance, yet small businesses around the country struggle with extremely expensive insurance premiums. According to AAIA, just in the last six years, premiums for families have increased 87 percent. The Small Business Heath Plan legislation would allow small companies to band together through professional and trade associations to purchase affordable health benefits. This advantage would allow small business employers greater bargaining power and the ability to receive the same benefits as Fortune 500 companies and unions.

At Right: Aftermarket professionals from Ohio meet with Senator George Voinovich’s Legislative Aide Matt Ortman

With the importance of these two issues, it’s no wonder that this year’s Legislative Summit had the highest number of participants to date. Two groups in particular made their presence known at this year’s summit. The Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina and the Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee drove to the Hill with a combined busload of 35 members.

Bob Pulverenti, executive director of the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina, explained that members often complain about legislation that negatively impacts their businesses, but a lot of them don’t even know their legislators. This year, it was Pulverenti’s mission to change that.

“Members need to go and meet with their legislators to see what the process is like in Washington so they have a better idea of how things happen. It’s not as easy as picking up the phone and getting a piece of legislation written,” Pulverenti said. “It’s a long process. We hope to give our people a better sense of what it takes to stall, kill or get a bill moving, and at the same time, create better relationships with not only national representatives, but representatives on a state level.”

Some members of the Independent Garage Owners of N.C. had never been to Washington, D.C. before. That alone proved to be an eye-opening experience, in addition to the chance they had to voice their opinions to N.C. representatives.

“I was excited just to learn more about the legislative process,” said Danny Sanchez, Elite Management, Cary, N.C. “This was my first time to be involved with legislators at any level. I felt privileged to walk the halls where the laws that govern our country are written.”

Don Griffin, Griffin’s Transmission Service, Raleigh, N.C., said, “I would be willing to come again to the Legislative Summit. I think we turned some heads with the size of our group. The legislators and their aides all listened intently and I feel they were genuinely concerned with our initiative.”

Kenneth Johnson, Independent Garage Owners Technical Services, Raleigh, N.C., said, “ If you think that meeting with legislators doesn’t make a difference, you are wrong. The legislators were all considering our concerns. As a unified group we can make a difference.”

Making a difference — that’s what it’s all about. But, after spending a day walking through the hallowed halls of Congress, a person can feel like a matchbox car in a garage full of semis. There is no certainty that what has been presented will pass, but there is certainly a sense of American patriotism that is lasting.